FebulousFebruary 2026: The Old Photograph

Day twenty four

Many Tory MPs are party people,

They smile all the time because they snort cocaine and they quaff champagne!                         

“Let the bodies pile high!” Boris Johnson shouted!

As Tories partied, Covid rules were flouted.

Was the PM there? He lied as he replied.

As people cried when their loved ones died

Not allowed to hold their hands

Under Covid rules this contact was banned 

They couldn’t attend their funerals

Social distancing had strict numerals

During Lockdowns, the Tories partied on and on

They pretended to comply but continued to con

Caught out, they agreed to investigation 

Now can Johnson survive the humiliation? 

While they got vaccinated and followed the rules, 

The British people were played for fools. 

By Jenny King

Day twenty three

A celebration of nature

The bears are nowhere to be seen. The wolves ignore Raf and Wilf’s wolf impressions. 

The late afternoon sunlight beams through the trees across the reindeer horns. 

There’s a hint of spring, of hope, of new life, of change. 

Could it be, could we allow ourselves to imagine….longer days, sunglasses, less clothing, warmth.  

Oh yes yes yes yes please.  

It’s all going to be ok. Thank you nature, seasons, consistent change. Love you. 

Amy Redmond, Margate

Day twenty two

People wanna party

They fought for their right to party

They don’t wanna hear about wages and taxes and how the rich gets richer  

They just wanna get together, have a beer or two, relax and chill, nice and easy

Let them know we are taking care of all that; working smart, partying hard

They….they just wanna meet a few people, have some small talk, maybe a boogie, flirt a little, maybe a few more beers, maybe a line or two, you know, relax and chill, nice and easy

They don’t wanna hear about the bees or the birds or the soil or the climate or the farmers and the workers and the teachers or the nurses or the doctors or…

Oh maybe the nurses…clap for them…Yes and let’s throw them a party!

They work hard, we work smart, we all need a party, relax and chill, nice and easy

Yes a party! wine in paper boxes, in paper cups; paper cheese sandwiches in paper bread; paper table covers, paper bibs…

For them I mean…for us BYOBs

They fought for their right to party 

They voted for their right to party

They voted for our right to party

Ec Oz

Day twenty one

Dance, drink, be merry

Don’t speak, don’t sit and think

Get up and dance!

The dance is where we let it go,

The dance is where we act as free.

The dance is all we have right now,

So, let’s be wild, you and me.

And then the dance it is no more,

The floor’s a mess, the head is sore

And still we have so much unsaid.

Ah fuck it, let’s just go to bed…

Deb Crossley, Thanet

Day twenty

This party has balloons,

Balloons are popping 

This party has music,

The music isn’t stopping 

People go round prancing,

In their own form of dancing. 

We all promised parents we’ll be back on the dot,

But somehow at a party there’s no time to look at the clock.

When I finally get home, I collapse on my bed, fun is exhausting, right? 

I had the most amazing time but you won’t see me awake in the morning! Night! 

By Erin Lobb, Horsham

Day nineteen

Doors 

My door whore is Screaming

through my broad hairy chest

to my glitzy heels

Ding dong! 

I am there 

flinging open drapes 

From the street

To safety of our 

Home.

Hovel. 

Heaven.

Head downstairs my darlings!

Join the party.

Flick my fan open and closed like a shield

Marking my territory back and forth forcing my heel and heel to the curb owning my patch then…

I see him

His stride 

His posture

His sound 

His silence

His hands in his pockets

His hair line

His face!

Knowing mine has been made up for him.

I’m silent

No heels to hit the curb

I’m stuck

No word to hit the mist.

He crosses by

Past

Down the stairs 

At the same rate

As my laden lashes

Fell.

I love him.

Adam Haylock-Lott

Wye

Day eighteen

Lesbian not Queer 2/22

Lovely lesbians leaping

Lovely leaping lesbians

Lesbians leaping 

Lovely Lesbians

Sapphic showdown

Rights to hold on

Lesbians fighting

Lesbians uniting

Knowing all are

of woman born 

Ah

Bronwen, Wales

Day seventeen

The Mince Pie Party

Mince pies, tea pots, music.

“I’d like you to meet my friend…”

A look, a beat, a smile. 

That’s it. She had my heart. 

Gillian McIntosh, Glasgow

Day sixteen

Party

Life’s a party when

You’re all the way down here in

The Safest Place in the World

It’s quiet and I haven’t seen a festival since god knows when.

Why go out? Just read some poetry, stay inside, contain the spread, a team of five million. Write some more poetry. Listen and do what we tell you, get vaxxed or get oust. 

Write poetry.

It’s the only way to articulate these ridiculous times.

Poetry seems to keep things light during times

When darkness seems to be comfort.

We live, or we don’t, and we love and we lose and one thing that is always certain,

Is that there will always be

Words that rhyme

And plenty of spare time.

Lauren Lynch, Christchurch, NZ

Day fifteen

PARTY POLITICS

Come on, let’s have a party.

We can say it’s just business,

(as is usual).

Let’s have a mask less masquerade.

We can all come as bare-faced liars.

Let’s use the law,

(one for us)

We can say to hell with them.

Come on, let’s have a party.

Meg Williams

LLanbrynmair